Toy novelty



Aug. 23,1927.

W. O. YANCEY TOY NOVELTY Filed June 26. 1926 Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

UNITED STA T ES wiL'LrAM o. YANCEY, or' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

rroY NOVELTY.

Appiicatlen ille-d .Tune'26, 1928. Serial N'o. 118,634.

Thisinvention relates to improvements in novelty toys, and more particularly to a toy capa' leoit providing amusement bycre atingV the illusion oill simultaneously dis# 5 appearing and appearingzblocks of different shape when the toy is manipulated.

The toy may be generaly' described as a series or plurality of hollow telescoping blocks,- resting-one upon another in pyramid 1o ashioina-nd capable ofI beingA shifted endwise ineither direction. `When the blocks are extended in one direction they appear to` be cylindrical in shape, but when the same are collapsed and shifted inthe opi posite'direction, the blocks assume the same pyramid arrangement but squarevin shape.

A preferred'embodiment of a toy of this general cha-iacterfisv disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which Je Figure'l isa View showing the to eX- tended in one direction giving theefl'ect of a pyramidmade'up of superimposed square blocks.

Figure 2 is a similar View in elevation showing the same toy extended in the opposite direction and giving the effect of a pyramid made up of a series of superimposed, cylindric blocks.

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal sec- H- tion, taken on line 3 8 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a View in end elevation as viewed from the lett of Figures 1 and 2; and

Figure 5 is a view in end elevation from the opposite or right-hand of Figures l and 2.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the blocks are hollow, and of increasing length from the outermost to the innermost blocks, the ends of the blocks being open. The blocks are preferably of wood, although they may be made of other materials, and suitably decorated, if desired, to enhance their appearance.

The outer block l is square or cubical in shape, and may be consideredas the stationary portion of the toy, that is, the base member of the device. lVithin the outer or base block is another block 2, slightly less in cross-sectional dimensions, and approximately oneethird longer. This block is like wise hollow, and has one end portion 2a (the left end in Figure 2) cylindric in shape whereas the remaining portion 2b is square, these two portions merging into each other with the diameter of the cylindric portion conforming to the transverse dimension of the square portion. Midway between the ends of the block 2, and in opposite faces thereof are'slot-s 2C, 2, equal in length to the distance said block is to slide relative to the outerv block 1. l

In like manner, a third hollow block 3 slides within the block 2, its cross-sectional dimensions heilig decreased and its length being increased in the same proportion. Moreover,l this block has a cylindric end portion 3a and aV square portion 3l. The second and third blocks 2 and 3 are limited toa'ldeiinite relative endwise-movement by a sliding pin-and-slot connection, the slot 2d being-preferably cut in theblock 2, and the pin 3C projecting from the block 3.

In the same' manner, a fourth block 4 slides within the third block 3 and a ifth b'loclr withinblo'ck 4, each being successively increased in length with a' proportional decrease in transverse dimension. Moreover the saine pin-and-slot connections join the blocks together, thus the pin 4c of the block 4 slides in the slot 3d of the block 3 and pin 5c ot bloclr 5 slides in slot 4(1 of block 4.

The last or inner block 6 is an elongated solid member having a relatively long cylindric portion 6a and a somewhat shorter square portion 6b. Extending practically the full length of the center block 6 is a transverse slot 6C which lterminates just. short of the exposed ends when the blocks are fully extended. Registering with this slot 6C in the center block 6 is a pair of oppositely disposed slots 2C in the block 2, and also corresponding pairs of slots 3C, 4C and 5C in each of the intermediate blocks 3, 4 and 5, respectively, these slots being of proportionally increased length to equal the full endwise movement of its block relative tov the outer or base block l.

Through these registering slots 2 to 6c, inclusive, extends a pin 7, having its ends fixed in opposite side walls of the outer block 1. This pin 7 acts to connect the outer and inner vblocks together, and to limit the movement of t-he latter in both directions. i' The separate pin-and-slot connections between the intermediate blocks serve in the same manner so that each extends the proper distance beyond the adjacent block when all are shifted.

Thus when the toy stands upright on one end the lower ends of all the blocks lie in `lili luc the same plane with their opposite ends projecting` upwardly in pyramid fashion, Which will be either cylindric or square, depending,- on Which end blocks are resting. The shifting may be accomplished either by gravity or by a slight pressure since the blocks are made to slide freely Within each other.

l-iaving disclosed the construction of the toy embodyingl my invention, i cia-im:

l. A toy, comprising a plurality of telescoping members of different lengths slidable endwise relative to each other for predetermined distances in opposite directions, whereby the exposed end portions of said members assume the appearance of graduated blocks in pyramid formation in the shifting of said members in either direction.

2. A toy comprising` a plurality of hollow telescoping` members of increased length from the outer to the inner member, and joined together for limited endxvise sliding movement relative to each other, Whereby the end portions of said members are alternately arranged in pyramid formation in the shifting of the same in opposite directions.

3. A toy comprising a plurality of holloiv telescoping members of increased length from the outer to the inner member and joined together for predetermined endWise sliding movement relative to each other, said members having end portions of diiferent cross-sectional contour and adapted to arrange themselves in pyramid formation in the shifting,- of said members in either direction.

if. A toy comprising tubular members, consist-ing` of a relativ-ely stationary outer member and a series of inner members of uniformly increasing length, telescoping Within each other and slidable endwise relative to each other and said outer member, each of said members having,` pin and slot connection with its adjacent members for limiting the reiative siiding movement in one direction.

5.1i toy comprising tubular members, consisting of a relative-ly stationary outer member and a series of inner members of uniformly increasing length, telescoping within each other and slidable endyvise reiative to each other and said onter member, each of said members having` their corresponding end portions of the same cross-sectional eontour but diering, from the contour of their opposite end portions, and means for connecting said members together for predetermined endWise movement relative to each other.

Signed at Chicago, ll., this 22nd day of J une, 1926.

WlLLIrih/f O. YANCEY. 

